Morphology successfully separates third instar larvae of <i><scp>M</scp>uscina</i>

Grzywacz, Andrzej; Hall, M. J. R.; Pape, Thomas

doi:10.1111/mve.12117

Cited by 22 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…Muscina larvae based on their morphology [7] and molecular identification techniques are now available [8,9]. However, the value of Muscina species as forensic indicators is restricted by the limited published information on their biology much of which is anecdotal.…”

Section: Recent Papers Have Described Means Of Distinguishing Betweenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The colonisation of remains by the muscid flies Muscina stabulans (Fallén) and Muscina prolapsa (Harris) (Diptera: Muscidae)

Gunn

2016

Forensic Science International

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In the field, the muscid flies Muscina stabulans (Fallén) and Muscina prolapsa (Harris) only colonised buried baits in June, July and August. The two-species cooccurred on baits buried at 5cm but only M. prolapsa colonised baits buried at 10cm.Other species of insect were seldom recovered from buried baits regardless of the presence or absence of Muscina larvae.In the laboratory, both M. stabulans and M. prolapsa preferentially colonised liver baits on the soil surface compared to those buried at 5cm. Baits buried in dry soil were not colonised by either species whilst waterlogged soil severely reduced colonisation but did not prevent it entirely. Dry liver presented on the soil surface was colonised and supported growth to adulthood but if there was no surrounding medium in which the larvae could burrow then they died within 24 hours.M. stabulans showed a consistent preference for ovipositing on decaying liver rather than fresh liver, even when it had decayed for 41 days. The results for M. prolapsa were more variable but it was also capable of developing on both fresh and very decayed remains.Blood-soaked soil and dead slugs and snails stimulated egg-laying by both species and supported larval growth to adulthood. Mushrooms, melon, and bananas also stimulated egg-laying although to a much lesser extent and very few larvae survived to adulthood. Horse faeces stimulated extensive egg-laying but the larvae invariably died during the first or second instar and none survived to pupariation. This information could be useful when determining the forensic significance of Muscina larvae recovered from dead bodies.

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Section: Recent Papers Have Described Means Of Distinguishing Betweenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The colonisation of remains by the muscid flies Muscina stabulans (Fallén) and Muscina prolapsa (Harris) (Diptera: Muscidae)

Gunn

2016

Forensic Science International

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“…1d) → Muscina spp. (for details see Grzywacz et al [28]) 10Postero-ventral surface of abdominal segments 5–6 at most with a single up to two rows of about five spines each (Figs. 1f, 7B in Grzywacz et al [28]) → Muscina prolapsa …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1e, 4a in Grzywacz et al [28]) and anterior spinose band on the fourth abdominal segment (a4) reaches at least the middle of lateral creeping welt → Muscina levida …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1g, 9A in Grzywacz et al [28]) and anterior spinose band on the fourth abdominal segment hardly present (Fig. 1g in Grzywacz et al [28]) → Muscina stabulans Mouthhooks symmetric (Fig. 2d) → Helina spp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specimens were reared, killed and preserved as described by Grzywacz et al [27, 28], Grzywacz and Pape [29] and Velásquez et al [26]. A laboratory colony of Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) was established from adults emerged from c .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Muscidae (Diptera) of forensic importance—an identification key to third instar larvae of the western Palaearctic region and a catalogue of the muscid carrion community

et al. 2016

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The Muscidae is one of the main dipteran families recognized as important for medico-legal purposes. Although an association of adult flies with decomposing human and animal bodies is documented for about 200 taxa worldwide, cadavers and carrion represents a breeding habitat for considerably fewer species. Species that do colonize dead human bodies can do so under diverse environmental conditions and, under certain circumstances, Muscidae may be the only colonizers of a body. Because of difficulties in identification, many studies have identified immature and/or adult muscids only to the genus or family level. This lack of detailed species-level identifications hinders detailed investigation of their medico-legal usefulness in carrion succession-oriented experiments. Identification to species level of third instars of Muscidae of forensic importance and the utility of larval morphological characters for taxonomic purposes were subjected to an in-depth revision. A combination of characters allowing for the discrimination of third instar muscids from other forensically important dipterans is proposed. An identification key for third instar larvae, which covers the full set of cadaver-colonising species of Muscidae from the western Palaearctic (Europe, North Africa, Middle East), is provided. This key will facilitate more detailed and species-specific knowledge of the occurrence of Muscidae in forensic entomology experiments and real cases. The carrion-visiting Muscidae worldwide are catalogued, and those species breeding in animal carrion and dead human bodies are briefly discussed with regard to their forensic importance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00414-016-1495-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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